Decarboxylation (sometimes shortened to "decarb") is the chemical reaction in which a carboxyl group (-COOH) is removed from an organic molecule, typically releasing CO₂ as a byproduct. In cannabis, decarboxylation is what converts the non-psychoactive acid-form cannabinoids (THCa, CBDa, CBGa) into their active forms (Δ9 THC, CBD, CBG). Decarboxylation happens with heat. Smoking, vaping, or dabbing cannabis decarboxylates in real-time at high temperatures. Baking cannabis in an oven at around 230°F for 30–40 minutes decarboxylates it before adding to food or tincture. At room temperature, raw cannabis will very slowly decarboxylate over months, which is why old flower tests with progressively more Δ9 THC (and also more CBN as the THC then oxidizes). The decarboxylation efficiency of THCa → Δ9 THC is approximately 87.7% by mass. A flower with 27% THCa will yield approximately 23.7% Δ9 THC when fully decarboxylated.
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